With the shift to contactless pickup and delivery options for shopping, supplies, and activities, local businesses across Long Island have had to get creative to stay afloat. Many small businesses have maintained social-distancing rules to keep serving their communities, and we've rounded up a bunch of ways to support their efforts to keep their doors open until the world reopens again.

From supporting local toy stores and bookstores to patronizing local restaurants, like those we profiled for their Mother's Day brunch menus, there are lots of ways to shop small. We recommend ordering directly from local businesses instead of third-party services whenever possible, and even if you don't need goods or services at the moment, consider pitching in by purchasing a gift card for future use. Every little bit helps a struggling small business right now.

And while you're showing your support for the businesses you love, we hope you'll count Mommy Poppins and our small business partners among them. You can support Mommy Poppins by sharing articles you find useful with friends or on your social media channels, checking out our directory of virtual classes, camps, and birthday parties and telling businesses you found them through Mommy Poppins. Also, as part of our effort to keep our local parent writers and this website afloat and support some of our favorite family businesses, we've created Poppins@Home, a platform for small businesses to share free and low-cost online classes and birthday parties with kids all over the country. Please consider trying a few of these fun, affordable, and creative classes—and spreading the word among your friends—as yet another way to support, uplift, and get through these challenging times together!

As the Coronavirus pandemic heads into its umpteenth week, we realize the cupboards might be getting bare. With the advised #StayAtHome health initiative aimed at curtailing new cases of the virus, now more than ever folks are trying to limit trips to the grocery store. Even if you do venture out, Long Islanders are reporting a lack of social distancing in aisles, bare dairy shelves, scarce meat options and don't get me started on the toilet paper situation. My mother-in-law ordered hers online from Australia! I traded produce for a roll.

Peapod and Amazon Fresh have been go-to's for many Long Islanders, but trying to get a delivery slot seems to be a full-time job. We found several services and/or companies offering stoop delivery or contact-less curbside pick up. If your favorite neighborhood shop isn't on the list try giving them a call, many shops are more than willing to accommodate patrons during these uncertain times.

Advised social distancing plus vast closures across Long Island has us getting creative here at Mommy Poppins. Whether it's an open trail hike or other outdoor experience, we've rounded up some activities if you're cooped up or heading to open space. 

Visit our Coronavirus Guide for Parents, for tons of resources and Boredom Busters to keep the kids busy. We've got educational science experiments, fun exercise games, remote learning resources like these mostly free online learning resources, websites and apps for kids, and more.

For more information on Coronavirus updates from around New York State, click here to read what parents should know.

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